Coin-holder for rural mail-boxes.



G. B WBMHOFF. 00m HOLDER FOR RURAL MAIL BOXES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 6, 1908.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

INVENTOR.

fi/AT WITNESSES GEORGE E. WEMI-IOFF, OF DECATUR, INDIANA.

COIN-HOLDER FOR RURAL MAIL-BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

Application filerl May 6, 1908. Serial No. 431,076.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. l/Vnirirorr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Decatur, in the county of Adams, in the State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Holders for Rural Mail-Boxes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to coin holders for rural mail boxes.

It is well known that in rural districts individual mail boxes are generally placed some distance from the houses of the patrons, and that frequently the patrons live nearly or quite a mile from the mail route on which the boxes are located; that it is a universal custom for patrons of those mail boxes to leave money therein, generally coins, when either letter postage or a supply of stamps or postal cards is desired; that it is desirable to so place this money that the rural carrier can readily extract it from the box in cold weather without delay, and without removing his gloves.

The object, therefore, of my invention is to provide a cheap, simple and convenient coin-holder or attachment for rural free-delivery mail-boxes, so constructed that the mail collector or rural carrier can readily and conveniently remove the contents without removing his gloves and without mixing it up with the mail matter.

My invention consists of a coin receptacle adapted to be rigidly fixed to the mail box or any other suitable support, having a coin slot in one end thereof, and provided with a pivoted bottom so weighted as to automatically resume and retain its normal position in use, and having a pendent means for operating the same to remove its contents.

In the accompanying drawings similar reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views in which Figure 1, is a longitudinal vertical central section of my invention fixed in position upon a lateral support, and showing in dotted outline the position which the pivoted bottom assumes in discharging the contents. Fig. 2 is also a longitudinal vertical central section of the same showing a slightly modified form of the pivoted bottom, and of the means for limiting its forward movement, the bottom also being shown in dotted lines in its tilted position; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of my invention showing the means for securing it in a pendent position either from the bottom of the mail box or some other proper support, and also showing the bottom in its open or tilted position to show the corrugated upper face thereof.

My invention may be'of any desired contour and dimensions, and of any suitable material, but preferably is of sheet-metal, and has the opposite sides 1 and 2, the ends 3 and 4t, and a fixed or integral top 5 having extended ends 6 each of which is provided with a vertical opening 7 for a proper holding screw by means of which the receptacle can readily be suspended from the bottom of the mail box or other suitable support 20. The side 1 is provided at each end thereof with a longitudinally extended ear or lug 8 having a lateral perforation 9 for a hold ing screw 10 or nail by means of which the receptacle can be secured to one side of the mail box, or other proper support. The bottom 11 also preferably of metal is pivotally mounted on the transverse pin 12 whose respective ends are fixed in the sides 1 and 2. This pivoted bottom has its upper face inclined as shown, whereby its rear end is of thicker metal and greater weight than the forward end. The pivot pin 12 is arranged approximately midway of the ends of the bottom which is provided at the rear of the pin with a pendent lug or operating handle 13 for tilting the same forward in use. The upper face of the pivoted bottom may be provided with a series of longitudinal corrugations 14:, Fig. 3, if desired to facilitate the discharge of the coin, though these corrugations are not deemed essential. This bottom is arranged slightly above the lower edge of the sides and ends of the receptacle, Figs. 1 and 2, to insure perfect protection from moisture. The front end 3 is provided with a suitable coin slot 15 through which the money for postage can readily be inserted by the patron.

Any suitable means may be provided for limiting the movement of the pivoted bottom, as for example a transverse partition 16, Fig. 1, which may be either vertical or inclined, as shown, which is so arranged that its lower end engages the upper face of the bottom forward of the pivot pin when it is in its normal position, and thereby limits the upward movement of the forward end, and the downward movement of the rear end thereof. The upper end of this partition also limits the forward movement of the rear end of the pivoted bottom, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1. Instead of the partition 16, a pin or stop lug 17 may be arranged on the inner face of one of the sides of the receptacle, Fig. 2, in which case a lug or transverse lateral projection 18 on the inner face of the rear end 4 at its lower edge is provided to limit the downward movement of the rear end of the bottom. The rear end of the bottom 11 may have an upright projection 19, Fig. 2, if desired to insure against lodgment of the coin at that point, and thus insure its prompt delivery when the bottom is tilted. The pivoted bottom may, of course, be additionally weighted, if desired by in creasing the thickness of the rear end to insure its prompt return to normal position after each operation, and the coin slot may be placed in the side instead of the end if preferred.

The operation and manner of employing my invention thus described is obvious and briefly stated is as follows: The pivoted bottom being securely retained in its normal position by its own weight and the limiting means described, the patron deposits the coin or money for stamps in the receptacle through the coin slot 15, after which it is received by the bottom 11 which is so weighted and balanced as to securely hold' the weight of five silver dollars in front of the pivot pin 12 without any danger of tilting the same. The patron in like manner deposits a note stating the amount of postage he desires. The carrier readily tilts the pivoted bottom forward by a slight pressure on the front face of the lug 13 and with the same hand he receives the contents of the bottom, and then releases the lug, after which the bottom will resume its normal position by gravity. He then inserts in the receptacle the postage desired. It is thus obvious that the carrier can quickly and conveniently extract the change with one hand and without removing his gloves, and without any danger of mixing the same with the mail matter.

Having thus described my invention and the manner of employing the same what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the class specified, adapted to be secured to the outer face of a rural mail box, consisting of a casing having a lateral coin slot, and means for securing the same in position; a tilting bottom pivotally mounted in the sides of the casing midway of its ends, and adapted when tilted to resume its normal position by gravity; a pendent lug on the lower face of the said bottom for actuating the same; and means for limiting the tilting movement of the bottom in both directions.

2. A rural mail box having fixed top and sides, and provided with a lateral coin and mail opening; a bottom pivoted midway of its ends and adapted to resume its normal position by gravity, and provided upon its lower face with a pendent lug for operating the same; and means within the mail box for limiting the opening movement of the tilting bottom, all substantially as described.

Signed by me at Decatur, Adams county, State of Indiana, this 2nd day of May, A. D. 1908.

GEORGE E. l/VEMHOFF.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. HELLER, L. T. ELLINGHAM. 

